The life-sized but celluloid tour guides in Crumlin Gaol pop up in full Victorian garb unexpectedly in tunnels and cell blocks to give you an insight into prison life.
Follow in the footsteps of the convicted and walk through the tunnel which runs from the courthouse, under the road and into the prison.
Then, unlike the prisoners of old, you are free to wander through cells, each of which contains a short educational film about an aspect of prison life from 1845 to 1996. Your narrators will include Victorian rope makers (actors) and real former lags from the 1970’s who will regale you with tales, straight out of an episode of Porridge, of rope-ladder escapes over the wall during football matches.
The pace is at times quite slow, even for a younger audience, but then, at the really crucial “history of all Ireland“ room, speeds up to a terrifyingly fast Horrible Histories pace. I sat through it twice and think I got the basics, but there is a LOT to take in.
Public executions were brought indoors from 1901 and the tour ends with the hanging room, where a noose dangles ominously from the ceiling. You spend a sobering few minutes learning about the final hours the condemned prisoners.
I don’t have kids, let alone teenagers but I really enjoyed your guide & it’s made me want to go back to Belfast! Especially love the idea of the Titanic Museum – this place sounds amazing. The gaol & the mural tour seems like it’s essential to understand the history & its impact. I would also definitely enjoy visiting the pubs as always 😉
Never mind teenagers, this all looks amazing to me. I visited Belfast a few years ago but had forgotten about some of these awesome places to see. I haven’t been to the Titanic museum yet but my parents went last year and can’t stop talking about how good it was so I really need to get there soon
Great list of things to do in Belfast. Would want to do all of them. Not everything would be fun, but to learn more about how it was in Belfast would be interesting.
I’ve been wanting to visit Belfast for quite a while to see the Titanic museum, but I didn’t know much else about the city so this guide is super helpful! Crumlin Gaol looks like a fascinating place! I’m definitely adding it to the list! Thanks for the great guide!
Belfast definitely has a lot going for it for people of any age. I didn’t come across the indoor skydiving when I was there which looks like so much fun! Love your photo of the Titanic Museum from across the water.
It’s good to know I will be able to keep my teens (and a little older) entertained and engaged while in Belfast. The place looks interesting and the pubs look inviting. Can’t wait to visit.
This is such a great post. I would love to check out the Titanic museum but I’m sure the teens probably enjoyed the indoor skydiving the most?
oh wow, indoor skydiving must have been a hit!I’d love to visit Belfast one day
Looks like you found some great things – I hadn’t realised about the sunken boat underneath the museum. How cool! #Culturedkids
Such a beautiful comprehensive post and great #CulturedKids material, I’m dreaming again about Belfast and Northern Ireland next summer! And of course you had me at the Crown Pub, that fabulous Victorian gin palace is now high on my list! Thanks again for joining us!
It’s somewhere we haven’t been, but it looks like there’s plenty to keep kids entertained. And that pub looks amazing! #CulturedKids